Centennial convenience store robbed

Learn more about an armed robbery that took place in the Centennial neighborhood …

At an outer East Portland convenience store, a quiet evening early in the New Year was disrupted by two armed robbers.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

An employee working at the Roll Your Own Mart, at 15801 SE Division Street, got a feeling of foreboding when two men walked into the shop on January 2 at 8:39 p.m. – and quickly made it clear they were not there to purchase cigarette rolling papers or snacks.

It was a holdup. Right afterward, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were called to the scene — some to debrief the employee, and others to canvass the neighborhood for the bandits.

“An employee told police that the two suspects entered the store, both armed with handguns,” reported PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Chris Burley. “The suspects demanded money, and, after obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, left the store without [further] incident.”

Officers check neighborhood streets, looking for people matching the description of the two armed robbers.

Officers searched the neighborhood for the suspects but did not locate anyone matching the suspects’ descriptions: Both were described as white males, five feet ten inches tall, with thin builds – but apparently no clothing descriptions were provided.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Robbery Division detectives at 503-823-0405.